Whereas there should be more detailed provisions on the opening of investigations, the checks and inspections required, access by exporter countries and interested parties to the information gathered, hearings for the parties involved and the opportunities for those parties to submit their views;

The Commission considers that normally disclosure, at any time, of documents received in the context of this notice would undermine the protection of the purpose of inspections and investigations within the meaning of Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The plant material subjected to the visual inspections referred to in point 2 and on which signs and symptoms of harmful organisms have been observed shall be subject to an investigation including testing where necessary, to determine as far as possible, the identity of the harmful organisms causing the signs and symptoms.

The plant material subjected to the visual inspections referred to in point 2 and on which signs and symptoms of harmful organisms have been observed shall be subjected to an investigation including testing where necessary, to determine as fas as possible, the identity of the harmful organisms causing the signs and symptoms.

The plant material subjected to the visual inspections referred to in point 2 and on which signs and symptoms of harmful organisms have been observed shall be subjected to an investigation including testing where necessary, to determine as far as possible, the identity of the harmful organisms causing the signs and symptoms.

The plant material subjected to the visual inspections referred to in point 2 and on which signs and symptoms of harmful organisms have been observed, shall be subjected to an investigation including testing where necessary, to determine as far as possible, the identity of the harmful organisms causing the signs and symptoms.

The Commission may request Member States to carry out all necessary checks and inspections, particularly amongst importers, traders and Community producers, and to carry out investigations in third countries, provided that the firms concerned give their consent and that the government of the country in question has been officially notified and raises no objection.

The Commission may request the authorities of third countries, where appropriate, as well as the Member States, to carry out all necessary checks and inspections, particularly amongst Community producers, and to carry out investigations in third countries, provided that the firms concerned give their consent and that the government of the country in question has been officially notified and raises no objection.

Whereas detailed rules should be laid down for implementing the Scheme of Joint International Inspection, hereinafter referred to as 'the Scheme', and Regulation (EEC) No 1956/88, in particular with regard to the adoption and notification of the provisional plan for the participation of the Community in the Scheme, the notification and investigation of apparent infringements and the cooperation of the Member States and the Commission in these matters;

Within the meaning of this Regulation, "administrative investigations" (hereinafter "investigations") shall mean all inspections, checks and other measures undertaken by employees of the Office in the performance of their duties, in accordance with Articles 3 and 4, with a view to achieving the objectives set out in Article l and to establishing, where necessary, the irregular nature of the activities under investigation.

Within the meaning of this Regulation, "administrative investigations" (hereinafter "investigations") shall mean all inspections, checks and other measures undertaken by employees of the Office in the performance of their duties, in accordance with Articles 3 and 4, with a view to achieving the objectives set out in Article 1 and to establishing, where necessary, the irregular nature of the activities under investigation.

Any failure to cooperate with the competent authority and any obstruction by slaughterhouse personnel or the slaughterhouse supervisor or, in the case of a private enterprise, by the slaughterhouse owner or owners, or by the owner of the animals or person having charge of them, during inspection and sampling as required for the implementation of national plans for monitoring residues and during the investigations and checks provided for in this Regulation, shall result in appropriate criminal and/or administrative penalties being imposed by the competent national authorities.